The Lodge School Ricaut XIII / Metek Architecture

Located in a residential street, near the lively neighborhood of Place d’Italie, the new lodge of the School Ricaut displays its large yellow cube, which replaces the old entrance, refining the main access point and offering a work space that is simultaneously visible and independent of the adjoining staff accommodation. Designed by Metek Architecture, the yellow module of the new lodge fits into the openings of the building, just like the toy building blocks used by children. Prefabricated with a light wood frame, the lodge is conceived as a piece of urban furniture. More images and architects’ description after the break.

Lodge occupants will find privacy in their private life, and realize the true meaning of the word reception in their public life. Initially recognizable by its bright color, this micro-architecture will be an urban anchoring point in terms of esthetics and access. The school has a true entrance setup that is simultaneously playful and functional.

The space created is now open to the city, thus promoting a connection with families. The ‘Big Eight’, the street address, is eye-catching and gives children a fun and dynamic image of their school, inviting them to enter. The window, newly carved into the façade, has a notice board, thus promoting interaction with the street. On the courtyard, the façade opens or closes to the rhythm of the school’s time slots.

Brightly colored Corian® panels (a mixture of two thirds natural minerals and one third acrylic resin) clothe this structure with a smooth cladding that enhances existing tones. The choice of resin yields rounded thermoformed angles that emphasize the joint, creating a slight floating back panel with the existing structure. These soft lines, echoing the curves of a large «eight», are there to inspire children to go to school. The ingenuity of the interior design makes the place accessible to mobility-impaired persons.

The starting dimensional challenge caused us to take particular care in the details and be generous with functionalities. All the elements necessary for comfort here are put into the walls to free up the central space (toilet, changing room, kitchenette, notice board, key panel, office) and niches simulate the contrasting play of yellow and white of the Corian® outside.

Integrating all the furniture into the architecture makes us forget the cramped nature of the place and shows that sometimes small need not be envious of big. Working simultaneously on the volume (high ceiling), the colors and the quality of light (natural and artificial) creates an airy and fun place. And so the spatial dimensions are expanded as much by their layout as by our own perception.